Ulster rugby star Stephen Ferris in full flight is an enthralling sight, but the diet which fuels his all-action play on the pitch is even more amazing as our story today reveals.

He consumes in a week what an average family would eat in a month, but then his rigorous training regime and play means that he burns many times more energy than ordinary mortals.

At 6ft 4ins and 18 stone he is a force of nature on the playing field and along with his team-mates has been helping Ulster to some great results in recent weeks including the mauling of the Leicester Tigers. Now all the supporters will be hoping that the man with the gargantuan appetite will make mince meat of French opponents Clermont Auvergne tomorrow.